Start Your Business

Small businesses make up more than 75% of our membership. By working with small businesses, we recognize that each one has its own unique needs and challenges. Through our various programs, The Chamber can assist entrepreneurs seeking to start their new venture or businesses looking to expand.


The IGNITE Program serves to grow businesses and create jobs by fostering entrepreneurs and their companies in northeastern Pennsylvania through education, counseling, networking, and mentorship support. We are capable of supporting new starts ups in any industry from tech to health care, food service, and more!

Financing

Financing fuels business growth. Whether you’re a business looking to expand or relocating to northeastern Pennsylvania, The Chamber has access to numerous financing programs and loans.

MetroAction Small Business Loan Program

MetroAction, The Chamber’s small business affiliate, specializes in providing term loans to start-up and expanding businesses. The loan programs offer flexible requirements as it pertains to credit, collateral requirements and credit scores. In addition, MetroAction can partner with a local bank or lending institution to provide a complete loan package.

Amount: $1,000-$100,000
Terms: Up to 6 years. No prepayment penalty.
Interest Rates: Fixed for the term of the loan.
Loan Use: Working or start-up capital, to purchase or upgrade equipment, renovations, etc.

Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Loan Program

The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Loan Program provides low-interest loans and lines of credit for eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs and for the development of industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities.

Amount: The PIDA program finances a portion of the total project cost. The maximum loan amount is $2.25 million based on eligible project costs and location.
Terms: Up to 15 years for land and building acquisitions and construction/renovation projects; up to 10 years for machinery and equipment; or up to one year for working capital and accounts receivable lines of credit (can be renewed).
Interest Rate: Fixed for the term of the loan.
Eligible Uses: Land and building costs, machinery and equipment, working capital lines of credit, accounts receivable lines of credit.

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Loan Program

The Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Loan Program provides taxable bonds that may be used to finance land, building, equipment, working capital and refinancing projects.

Amount: Loans start at $400,000 and can finance 100% of the project cost.
Terms: Terms vary depending on project scope.
Interest Rate: Weekly variable or fixed for the term of the loan.
Eligible Uses: Land and building costs, building renovation and new construction, machinery and equipment acquisition and installation, designated infrastructure, refinancing and working capital.

For additional information, please call The Chamber at 570-342-7711.

Economic Development Initiatives

Through The Chamber’s partnerships with state and local governments, companies within Greater Scranton are prospering in our pro-business environment. Our economic development team can serve as your community partner, assisting you in all aspects of your site selection process.

The Scranton Plan will serve as your single-point-of-contact for all site selection and development needs. Whether you require assistance in crafting a financial incentive package, engineering and infrastructure design or permits and approvals, the Scranton Plan will be your community partner starting from your initial contact through your operations commencement.